Typewriter



May 13, 1924@ Lgaa W. P. KIDDER TYPEWRITER Filed dan. 1'1. 1919 2 sheets-sheer 1 May 13, w24.. @@3551 W. P. KiDDER TYFEWRITER Filed dan. 11, 1919 2 sheets-'sheet 2 f2? venia? Patented May i3, i924.

W'ELLINGTDN PARKER KIDDER, OF JAMAICA PLAIN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 ROCHESTER INDUSTRIES, INC., OF ROCHESTER, NEW

YORK, .fk-CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPEWRITER.

Application filed January 11, 1919.

To all whom t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, InLLrNc-iron P. KIDDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamaica Plain, Boston, county of Suffolk, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in rlypewriters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to typewriting machines and particularly to typewriter shift mechanism.

As illustrative of my invention I have shown a type shift in which the-change from upper to lower or middle case is effected through the movement of the main frame 0f the machine itself. In the form shown in the drawings accompanying this specilication I have shown as an illustrative embodiment a folding encased machine havy ing the type shift features above referred to.

While the folding case feature of the machine sliown is not itself the subject matter of my present invention, being included in my previous application, Serial Number 264,815, filed November 30, 1918, the collapsibility of the machine does enter into the combination of the type shift principle and should therefore be considered in connection with it.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of so much of a typewriting machine in accordance with my invention as is necessary to illustrate the present subject matter with parts in lower case position.

Fig. 21s a similar view with the parts in middle case position.

Fig. 3 another similar view with the parts in upper case position, and" Fig. 4 a fragmentary plan view of the parts above shown.

The base 1 herein shown is the lower section of a carrying case having the complementary members 2 hinged thereto at 3. One leaf 5 of the hinge is a part of the main support 1 while the other leaf 7 is part ofthe Vplate 6 to which the bent link 11 is also pivoted at 13. The support 4 has an upstanding portion 8 to which the bell crank lever 10 is pivoted at 9, its lower end being connected to both the bent link 11 and the slide piece 14 on a common pivot- 12. The slide piece 14:k is provided with a'cam slot 15 which receives one end of the cross Serial No. 279,737'.

bar X for adjustably supporting the front end of the machine. The upper end of the bell crank 10 receives the cross bar'Y for adjustably and collapsibly supporting the platen member of the machine. The hinge and supporting members are in duplicate, one set on each side of the'case and detachably receive the machine and support it within its easel-2.

The foregoing parts designated by numerals are those discussed in my previous application above mentioned and function especially in the collapsing encaseinent of my machine. They are related, however, to the subject matter of the present application as a phase of the movement of collapse is employed in the shift mechanism which forms the present subjectv matter.

Referring to only such parts of my inachine as are essential to the present invention, the machine proper includes avkey frame A having a cross bar B on which keys are pivoted including the shift keys C-C1. These keys C-C1 constitute levers which in the form shown rock the key frame A on the cross bar X as a fulcrum to change the position of the type bars of which one is shown at D) relative to the platen E. Each type bar I) has the usual upper, lower and middle case characters indicated as d, di, d2.

rIhe platen E is mounted in a carriage F transversely sliding on a frame G from which at each side brackets g extend downwardly. In these bracket (7 are mounted the cross shafts Y and W. The shaft Y is the carrier of the platen member while the ends of the shaft IV act as guides in the slot a in the frame A.

The frame Gs with the carriage F and platen E all collapse within the rear end of the key member A upon the closing of the case 1-2, by the guided movement of the rod ends W-X within the slots a under the actuation of the bell crank 10 the end which is'sprung over the end of the bar Y.

The part played by the slot a as far as the present invention is concerned lis one of accommodation. It permits the movement of the frame A in shifting the head of the type bars D relative to the platen E to change case. This' Vis accomplished by the shift levers C-C1. y

The lever C pivoted at B has a rearwardlyprojec'ting end or support c which takes under a roller 7L supported in bracket I-I. The bracket I-I is fastened to the support or base member' l. The tendency of this lever C is therefore to pry the rear end of the key frame A down towards the base tilting` it on X and thus shift-ing,` the position of the head of any type key D relative to the platen E. It is to be borne in mind that the platen E and carriage l? on the support G is independently held during` this movement on the bell crank 10 although on account of the shaping of the slot a, the travel of the frames A upon the two rods Vil and Y produces a slight rocking of the entire platen member. This* slight rocking preserves the properposition of the platen E relative to the frame A so that the heads of kthe type bars D will contactr with it on the proper line. y

rThe potential throw` of the lever C' is determined at one extremity by the upper end of the slot a and at the other extremity by the stop piece K fixed on the side yof the frames A.. Pivoted to each one fof the side frames A. is a lever L fulcrumed at Z'having a rearward end Z1 disposed so as to bear on the cross bar Y. The opposite end of the .lever L is normally held thrown up by'A a titl spring M which is bowed and fastened at m to one of the cross bars of the frame. i The tendency therefore of the lever L is to resiliently support the key frame A relative to the platen mount in the position shown in Fig. l. This, as will be noted from the drawings, leaves the key frame A. and the platen mount in a somewhat intermediate position of potential movement, the key frame A being depressible relative to the mount by reason of the upper section of the slot a while the entire platen and its mounting` is movable for collapse or erection relative to the key frame A by reason of the lower part of the slot ci. n

.I ust below the lower end of t-he lever L is a stop N pivoted at a and held by a light spring O which normally maintains its upper end in the path of the end of the. lever L. The depression of the key C rocks the frame Auntil the lower end ofthe lever L contacts with the stop N. This determines the position of middle case as shown in Fig. 2. In order to secure further tilting of the frame A to bring; the other line of characters of the type bar Dinto alinement, the

`stop N is withdrawn. This. is effected by the auxiliary shift key C1 which lies closely adjacent to the finger piece yof the key C so that both keys may' be depressed at once when desired. When so depressed the rear end of the key frame may be rocked to its lowestposition and when the rod ends Y are at the ends of the slots a 'the third type position is assured.

A In this manner I am able tol secure sim* ple, efficient, but positive shift 'with miniand the principles involved may be va-A riously applied in machines other than of the type shown, and all without departing from the spirit of my invention if within the limits of t-he appended claims.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a typewriting;- machine, a platen frame and akey frame mounted together to be guided relatively in movable relation, a support-inf.;` means for said frames comprising a pivotal support for the key frame, and case shift means for rocking; said key frame relative tosaid platen frame.

2. In a typewriting` machine, a platen carrier, a support for said carrier, a key and type frame' operatively mounted relative thereto, a fulcrum for the frame, and .means for rocking` said frame relative to' said plat-en carrier for type shift.

3. In a typewriting` machine, a platen. a support for said platen, a fulcrumed frame carryingr key and type elements. and means to swing` said platen and to rock the frame on said fulcrum to change the relative type impact on., the platen for type shift.

el. In a typewriting' machine of the class described, a base, a collapsible platen support on said base, a platen frame on said support, a key frame movably mounted on said base, said platen support` and key frame having; relative movement of collapseA` and case shift means for producing` a movement of said key frame on its support. while said platen support is maintainedl in its uncollapsed position for type shift.

5. In a typewriting machine of the class described. a base. a platen support on said base, a platen frame on said support. a key frame movably mounted on said base,` said platen frame and key frame hau/'ingrelative movement of collapse, and a key shift for producing a movement of said key frame on its support relative to said platen frame for case shift movement.

G. In a typewriting machine of the class described, a base. a fulcrumed collapsible platen frame'support thereon. a. key frame movably mounted on said base. a platen frame mounted on said support and collapsible relative to said key frame. case shift means for moving said key frame relative to said platen frame and stops for selectively determining' said relative move-- ment'.

7. In a typewritinnmachine of the class described, a base1 a platen frame support thereon, a platen frame mounted on said support, a key frame movably mounted on said base and yieldingly supported on said lplaten support, case shift means for posi* described, a support, a platen frame col-` lapsibly mounted on said support and a key frame also collapsibly mounted thereon, and means for selectively moving said key frame independently of said platen frame for type shift relative to said platen. v

described, a base, a platen frame and a key frame mounted for movement relative to each other, key levers mounted in the key frame, type bars carrying a plurality of type, supporting elements for the two frames and movable relatively to said base, and means for moving said frames relatively independent of said support forv type shift.

l0. In a type-writing machine, a platen frame, a key. frame, collapsible supporting elements on which said frames are mounted for relative movement, means for.

effecting the collapse of said elements to effect said relative movement, and independent means to move one frame vrelative to the other for type shift and without the col lapse of said support.

11. 1n a typewriting machine, thecombination of a case comprising two partsconnected for opening and closing movement, a compactible typewriting machine frame including a platen frame and a key and type frame. a connection between the case and said frames for effecting a compacting movement of said frames relative to each other when the case is closed, and independent means for moving said frames relative to the other to effect type shift of the machine.

12. 1n a typewriting machine, the combination of a case comprising two parts connected for opening and closing movement, and the platen frame and a key and type frame of a compactible typewriting machine, a connection ybetween the case and said frames for effecting a compacting movement of said frames relative to each other when the case is closed, independent means for moving said frames relative to each other to effect type shift of the machine and stops for predetermining the limits of the type shift movement.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a case comprising two parts connected for opening and closing` movement, a compactible typewriting machine frame including a platen frame and a key and type frame, a connection between the case and said frames for effecting a compacting movement of said frames relative to each other, and a retirement of the machine within one yof said parts, and independent means for moving said frames relative to Aeach other to eEect type shift of the machine.

11i. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a case comprising two parts connected for opening and closing movement, a compactible typewriting machine frame including a platen frame and a key and type frame, a connection between the case and ysaid frames at front and rear for effecting a compacting movement of said frames,

and independent means for rocking the pla- 9. ln a typewritmg machine of the class ten and key frames on the front connection to effect type shift of the machine.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a oase comprising two parts connected for opening and closing movement, a platen frame and a key and type frame, a collapsible support for the platen frame, a collapsible support for the key frame, a connection between the case and said supports for effecting a compacting movement of said frames relative to each other, and case shift means for moving said key frame ipldfependently of its support to effect type s i't.

16. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a case comprising a base and top connected for opening and closing movement, a compactible typewriting machine frame snugly fitting said case and normally substantially in contact with said base, said typewriting machine frame including a platen frame and a key and type frame, con nected to each other for relative movement, an elevating device for each of said frames, a connection between the top and said elevating devices to raise said machine frame from the base and means to rock the key frame on the base.

17. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a case comprising a top and a base connected for opening and closing movement, a typewriting machine frame including a depressible key frame substantially in contact with said base when the case is closed, and a connection between the top and the base for effecting a separation of said frames and base to permit the key frame depression.

18. Case shift mechanism for folding typewriter comprising a platen carriage bed, a machine frame, means for moving said platen carriage bed relatively to said machine frame to compact the dimensions of the machine for carrying purposes, and case shift mechanism for moving said machine frame relative to the platen carriage in the same path which the parts travel relatively `to each other during compacting movement.

19. In a folding typewriter machine, a carrying case, a machine frame mounted in said carrying case, type bars pivoted in said llO machine frame, a platen carriage bed sup-A ported upon said carrying case and guided by said machine frame, and case shift mechanism adapted to cause relative movement between said machine frame and said platen carriage bed to change the elevation of the pivots of the type bar for case shift.

20. In a folding typewriter machine, aA

supporting bed, a machine frame mounted for movement upon said supporting bed, type bars, and actuating mechanism thereoi, carried by said machine frame, a platen carriage bed adapted to be lowered When the machine is folded, a platen mounted upon 

